Uncle Keith

My Grand Uncle Keith passed away this past week. I was sad to hear the news as he is my all time favorite grand uncle.
As I reflected on my memories of him I was happy that I have great ones. As I've gotten older, I haven't seen him as much as I did as a child.
The funeral was the single best funeral I have ever been to. It was exactly as a funeral should be: about the person who passed away....sharing happy, funny and sad memories. It left us all feeling that we had been in a presence of a truly great man all of our lives.
My second cousins shared the pulpit together and shared their stories and memories. Many stories I've heard before, but it's been so long I'd forgotten. I learned a lot about him and my grandfather (like: they were in the first group of the Utah National Guard.)
As a young girl I remember asking Uncle Keith about Pearl Harbor for a report. I didn't remember the details because I'd been a kid and that kind of thing didn't really sink in for someone my age. Now that I'm older, I see the significance of his experience.
He was the first person in 1940 to enroll in the navy from Utah. He was 17 years old. On December 7, he was stationed on the US Tennessee and he was on the harbor that morning, in training. He and his classmates had heard an explosion and assumed it was an oil tanker nearby and they went out of the front of the building. There was nothing there to indicate an explosion. Then they heard a second explosion and realized it was on the other side of the building...where the ships were. He and the others ran through the building and when they came out they saw the sky filled with planes.
My second cousin, Ken, said that my uncle never shared his emotions or many of the events that followed that moment. As it did for the entire United States, that day changed everything. That day changed my uncle's life...as it would.
When he came back to SLC, he married Aunt Velma.
After my cousins spoke, their kids shared their own experiences. My cousin Tom shared a poem that my uncle used to share. He'd had to memorize it as a kid as a punishment in school. I had forgotten all about it until Tom read it. And what I remembered is sitting at The Lake (Echo) around the camp fire while he told us the memorized poem:


The Little Orphan Annie
James Whitcomb Riley
Little Orphan Annie's come to my house to stay.
To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away.
To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep.
While all us other children, when the supper things is done,
we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun,
a listening to the witch tales that Annie tells about
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers,
and when he went to bed at night away up stairs,
his mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
and when they turned the covers down,
he wasn't there at all!
They searched him in the attic room
and cubby hole and press
and even up the chimney flu and every wheres, I guess,
but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned
and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin,
and once when there was company and old folks was there,
she mocked them and she shocked them and said, she didn't care.
And just as she turned on her heels and to go and run and hide,
there was two great big black things a standing by her side.
They snatched her through the ceiling fore she knew what shes about,
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

When the night is dark and scary,
and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo,
you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,
and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears
and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,
or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!!

Those stinkin' goblins scared me to death! LOL!

What I remember about my Uncle Keith and Aunt Velma is that at the lake, we were always welcome at their fire, to roast their marshmallows, and chat with them about anything no matter how insignificant it would be for an adult to hear a child talk about their little lives.
I also remember going their house on Christmas and admiring their cookoo clock! I loved that clock!